Your local Councillors, Nigel Howells and John Dixon, have today distributed the following letter to almost 1,000 homes in the Clifton Street area:

Dear Resident

As you are no doubt aware, your local councillors Nigel Howells and John Dixon, have been working with the Council and their appointed consultants, Atkins, to look at ways of revitalising Clifton Street.

So far, Atkins has distributed widely a newsletter to nearby residents setting out a range of options to improve the street. Also, two community exhibition days have been held in Clifton Street itself.

The options included:· Creation of one way street or retention of two way system· Pedestrianised Plug or no pedestrianised plug· Shared surface or standard road and pavement· Introduce 30 minute waiting limits on Clifton Street· Create a clean modern look for Clifton Street.

The summary of the consultation results are detailed in the post below.

In summary, over two thirds of people who responded favoured a one way street over the existing two way traffic, and more than four in five want to see parking in Clifton Street limited to 30 minutes, and the non-residential parking in the streets off replaced by one hour limited waiting parking during the day. Other improvements such as a shared surface were less clear cut.

The consultants are recommending that the Council proceed with the one way street option. This will have the benefit of creating an enhanced pedestrian environment and encouraging greater vitality in the centre, however it is recognised that some residents in adjoining streets may be affected and every effort will be made to divert traffic away from Metal Street and Piercefield Place. The consultants have been asked to investigate options to alleviate any potential issues arising from these proposals. In addition Atkins is recommending introducing table top junctions and half hour parking restrictions on Clifton Street.

We now want to see what your opinion is, following this initial consultation. As residents most likely to be affected by any changes, we don’t want to proceed further without again asking you for your views.

So if you want a full copy of the results, or if you have any comments about the findings and recommendations, then please get in contact with us at:

Obviously, this is our big chance to improve things. We know, whatever is done, not everyone will be happy or agree, but your view is important so what we end up with has the support of as many people as possible.

Clifton Street Regeneration Community Consultation24th and 28th May 2005

The results of the community consultation for the regeneration of Clifton Street are as follows:

· 214 people attended the exhibitions and 22 businesses were represented at the traders meeting.· 127 questionnaires were returned and 5 letters / emails were received.

Summary of the Results

The top three key issues of concern on Clifton Street:· Traffic Movement· Parking· Environmental quality and appearance of the shops

Traffic Movement45% of respondents stated that a one way street was definitely required and a further 26% supported the proposals. Only 11% stated that they absolutely did not want a one way street and a further 15% did not support the proposals.

82% of respondents indicated that they supported or definitely required table junctions. Only 7% indicated that they did not support or absolutely did not want table junctions.

General comments:· There is a need to improve pedestrian crossings and to provide better access for the disabled.· Traffic calming should be introduced to slow down traffic.· Traders should be discouraged from blocking the pavement with their goods.

Parking45% of respondents stated that 30 minute waiting was definitely required and a further 36% supported the proposals. Only 8% did not support these proposals.

83% of respondents stated either 1 hour waiting on side streets was definitely required or supported the proposal.

General comments:· The car parking restrictions should be effectively enforced for any new regime to function properly.· Traders have suggested introducing a traders permit allowing parking in residents bays during the day.

Environmental Quality and appearance of shops64% of respondents stated that the new ‘clean modern’ look is needed on Clifton Street. A further 18% supported the proposals.

34% of respondents stated that public art was definitely required and a further 41% supported the proposals.

General comments:· The street had an untidy run down appearance, with too many vacant properties.· Shop fronts need to be improved.· Provide more bins and improve street cleansing.· Need to attract new, high quality and diverse businesses to broaden the distinctive shopping appeal of Clifton Street.

CCHA Work - Ruby StreetWe have received notice from Cardiff Community Housing Association that work will commence this month on the demolition and rebuilding of 33 Ruby Street.The work will take approximately 8 months to complete.The building contractors who will be carrying out the work are:

Tony G Harris Building Contractors Limited8 GreenlawnsCardiffCF2 6AWTel: 029 2048 2483If you have any queries regarding the work you should contact Roy Davies of CCHA. Roy is supervising the work and can be contacted on 029 2046 8458.

Thursday, June 09, 2005

Health and Social Care working together to Address Delayed Transfers of CareIn his report to the National Assembly’s Health and Social Services Committee, Minister for Health & Social Services, Dr Brian Gibbons, set a new target for Wales to reduce the number of days delayed by 50% by 2006/07.It is no coincidence that the Cardiff Council’s Community & Adult Services Scrutiny Committee looked at this last night, 8 June 2005. Senior managers of the Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust and the Council's Adult Services gave a detailed presentation on the current situation and a number of initiatives that will address it.

Cllr. Brian Finn, Chair of the Community & Adult Services Scrutiny Committee, said, “The Committee appreciated the opportunity to consider this issue as the 'delayed transfer of care' has been of concern to the Committee for some time. I was particularly glad to hear about the cooperative approach which has been adopted between the Council and the Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust.”

Many of the initiatives are not just related to the supply of residential and nursing care home beds – for example a second rapid response and reablement team. But Cardiff is working closely with partners to provide much needed extra care capacity over the next couple of years including the new “extra care” development in Fairwater.

A spokesperson for Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust said: “If we can work together to the Minister’s target it would: free up 40 beds in non-mental health and 30 in mental health. It would mean that the trust could treat 2000 additional inpatients and day cases from the waiting list and there are only 11,000 in total on the waiting list.“

Cllr John Dixon, Cardiff Council’s Executive Member for Health, Social Care and Wellbeing, said: “We should recognise that delayed transfers of care are not just statistics but actual people. Each of them has unique needs most of which concern us both, the Council and the NHS.

He added: “We are confident we will achieve extra care capacity; but how much of it we are able to achieve to alleviate the pressures, meet people's needs better, and help meet the Minister’s target will depend on how the Welsh Assembly Government treats the Council in the next two revenue settlements. The Assembly Government must match its ambition with the resources to achieve it and then sustain it. Remember, this year the Assembly cut the Social Services element of the grant to Cardiff by £4.3m, and then capped the Council at -0.6%. And, based on the Assembly's own figures, the Cardiff Local Health Board is also underfunded.”

Friday, June 03, 2005

Cardiff’s Children’s Service Continues to Improve

Cardiff’s Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee reviewed the performance of Children’s Services on 26 May, just a day after the Minister for Health & Social Services, Dr Brian Gibbons, had reported to the National Assembly’s Health and Social Services Committee.

These two reports confirmed that Cardiff Children’s Services are continuing to improve, particularly in the key areas that were causing most concern. However, both also acknowledge there are many areas that still need tackling.

The reports outlined several areas where performance had improved or been sustained including:

100%, of decisions are being made on referrals within 24 hours. All children referred are being risk assessed at the point of referral.

A considerable improvement in the completion of core assessments. Targets set have been exceeded

There has been an improvement in conducting reviews on looked after children, and performance reviewing children on the child protection register has been maintained. in relation to reviews for looked after children has improved again this quarter

But on the other hand side performance in completing initial assessments on time has slightly declined.

The reports also acknowledge progress in building the infrastructure; progress that should yield further improvements in service delivery in the future. Cardiff is still short of social workers and managers but the reports acknowledge the efforts that Cardiff is making to address this. During this period Cardiff implemented a new client information and management system. Managers are confident that this will help maintain the momentum of improvement.

The Minister’s report confirms that Cardiff is “continuing to demonstrate progress in a significant number of key areas”.

Cllr John Dixon, Cardiff Council’s Executive Member for Health, Social Care and Wellbeing, said: “The inspector’s report is a very fair one, which highlights both the improvements we are making, and the further steps we need to take, but I am delighted to see that the effort we are putting in is beginning to bring the results we all want.”

He added: “We still have many obstacles to overcome; we have only just begun to reshape the service to improve outcomes for children, and use the resources we have more effectively.”